KNOCK KNOCK
The plainly dressed man with an umbrella now in hand and plastic bag full of food wrappers in the other, gave the metallic door two light taps with the metallic tip of the aforementioned tool.
Not many people would knock on an office door at 1 AM, so it wasn't exactly a surprise that he'd first heard a dull yawn along with some stretching, then the sound of encroaching footsteps from within, a little rocking back and forth on his heels was needed to stave off some boredom during the wait, humming couldn't hurt too.
Once the sound of footsteps had stopped, he knew whoever was inside had reached the door.
''You a rat?'' A coarse, gruff voice called out, clearly pissed on account of being woken up to deal with whatever bullshit was awaiting him on the other end of that door, the owner of said voice leaning downwards, peering with a lone eye trough a small slit in the door.
''Mhm...'' His hand came to cup his chin in thoughtfulness ''I was told that I kind of look like one....''
''So you are a rat?''
''In appearance only! You don't got to worry about me robbing the place, just here for business.''
''...''
''Tch-''
''You expect me to believe that? You're here for business at this hour?''
''I was under the impression fixer offices are always open to work?''
''Don't give me that crap, what could you possibly even want done right now, have us help fight some sweepers or something? I'm the only one here so sorry to disappoint, now scram.''
It would've been so much easier to get inside if the man had bothered to bring his fixer license, but that thing was probably buried under half a dozen body pillows back at his apartment, compromise time it is.
''Aw c'mon don't be like that!'' He held the bag of food out, waving it enticingly. ''I even brought some HamHamPangPang to share! You just gotta let me in for a little chat is all I'm asking for.''
''I ALREADY TOLD YOU TO FUCKING LEAVE!''
He punched the door as hard as was possible to emphasize the point, rattling it yes, but doing little to intimidate it's intended recipient.
''I'VE GOT NO CLUE WHY YOU'RE EVEN HERE! WE EVEN GOT A SIGN THAT CLEARLY SAIS FANGHUNT OFFICE TO NOT DEAL WITH SHIT LIKE THIS ANYMORE, YKNOW? FANGHUNT, FANG, HUNT. WE RESOLVE BLOODFIEND PROBLEMS, AND SINCE YOU CLEARLY LIVE UNDER A FUCKING ROCK! I CAN TELL YOU WITH CERTAINTY THAT THESE BACKSTREETS'VE BEEN BLOODFIEND FREE FOR ALMOST A FULL FUCKIN YEAR!
''You done?''
''FUCK OFF!''
''Damnnnnnnn~ So aggressive~''
Didn't exactly take a genius to figure out that the man on the other end was fuming, and becoming increasingly disinterested in continuing to engage in conversation as a result, already having begun angrily stomping away back to his bed and muttering obscenities.
''Aw c'mon!'' But the man he was dealing with was hard to get rid of, especially because when paid leave was on the line kicking this door down and getting his grade suspended was a very acceptable loss, unfortunately for him it hadn't come to that yet, so for now he'd play nice, already having his face smooshed up against the door to peer through the slit. ''What if I told you that I did have a job related to bloodfiend hunting?''
That was certainly enough to stop the fleeing fixer in his tracks, and curve his own lips into a mildly wider smirk than usual.
''...''
''Elaborate.'' He'd turned around to face him fully too, fantastic.
''I will! You just gotta let me inside. Hospitality and all that crap.''
''....Tch-''
Very reluctantly, the man inside walked towards him, beginning to pick through his pockets for an appropriate set of keys, inserting them into the lock once they were found, and twisting.
Not soon after did the door open with a metallic groan, both parties finally meeting face to face, choosing to just stare at each other for a bit.
Rough and callused hands, a face and head of hair that hadn't been washed in at least three days, spiked mallet leaning against a wall in some dark corner of the room, black clothing in the form of a trench coat on the man himself, decorated with silver rhomboid accessories and decorations, cartridge belt slung over the right shoulder. Yup, it was definitely a fanghunt office fixer.
''So, you finally chose let me in?'' Accompanying the statement was an even wider smirk and an enticingly dangled plastic bag at the other Fixer's face.
''Hmph....make it quick.'' With about as much hospitality left in him, he threw a hand over his shoulder, wordlessly beckoning for the other man to follow.
Nothing too special was revealed when he flicked the lights on, had a nice black carpet and some potted plants but other than that it was your standard run of the mill grade 4 office, only noteworthy thing being a large table with 2 chairs on either side, shelf of what appeared to be bottles of liquor on the wall behind it. Where the fanghunt fixer was making himself comfortable.
''Sit.'' was spoken while gesturing towards the seat in front of him.
''You can't exactly be surprised you don't get many requests when this is how you treat your customers.'' He spoke with mild annoyance, still with an omnipresent smirk somehow, but eventually he pulled the chair out and sat himself down, placing both objects being carried onto the table.
Briefly digging through the bag afterwards, taking out 2 sandwiches that smelled absolutely mouthwatering, as did all things from HamHamPangPang.
''You can't seriously still be expecting me to provide you hospitality at this hour.''
''Mhm.''
''Fair point, some of that liquor wouldn't hurt though.'' Already in the process of stuffing himself while speaking, he reached out towards the man with his free hand, sandwich still warm in its wrapper.
''Want one?''
''I'm good.'' Not so much as a twitch in expression or body language, stung a little.
''Suit yourself.'' Whatever, more sandwiches for him.
''So you wanna finally tell me about the request that you came here for?''
''Dunno.'' He licked some sauce off his fingertips. ''You wanna give me some alcohol from the top shelf?''
''I'm not playing games here.''
''Neither am I, it was a serious question.''
''YOU GONNA TELL ME OR WHAT!?''
''Fine fine, you seriously gotta work on your anger issues though.'' Those now sauce free fingers began digging through his pocket for something. ''You're never gonna get laid being such a grump, not that I'm gonna get laid either but it's for a different reason altogether.''
''I swear if you don't shut the fuck up-''
''Ah! Here it is!''
That something turned out to have been a photograph, which he slid across the table, very effectively silencing the other man.
''...''
His gaze came down towards it, squinting, tilting his head at several angles.
The photograph was dark with barely anything visible in the frame, only a few dead bodies with weapons clearly made of blood having impaled them.
''....So they survived...'' His fingers curled, balling his hand up into a fist.
''Yup! Pretty shocking for me too. Thought the huntsman killed 'em all! But turns out a-....''
''...''
''5th kindred...managed to survive, even wiped out the kurokumo clan!''
''...I see.''
He lifted his head back up to look the man dead in the eyes, or sunglasses in this case.
''You got any clues of their current whereabouts.''
''Don't know, you got any glasses of whiskey?''
''...''
''Sigh.''
''Tell me and I'll let you have some, top shelf.''
''Well a little birdie told me that they may or may not be around the address of the kurokumo clan's former hangout spot.''
''....I see'' Much to his own annoyance the man got up from his seat, chair creaking upon doing so, shuffling through a variety of bottles on the shelf above him, settling on one with a particularly intricate design full of a brownish yellow liquid, tossing it towards the other man, who caught it easily.
''Is that everything you wanted to tell me?''
''Mhm..'' His hands were already in the process of unwrapping the other sandwich after laying the bottle down. ''Pretty much, 100,000$ Ahn right?''
''Correct.''
''What about a discount~?''
''Eat shit and die.''
''Owch~'' He threw the rest of the sandwich into his mouth. ''Harsh.'' Despite his ''protests'' the money was coughed up rather quickly by him simply reaching into the pocket again, tossing it onto the table where the man began counting it.
''....It's all in order'' He announced as the final bill was tolled. ''Now piss off.''
''Mhm, fine.''
The man got up from his seat, taking back the umbrella he'd previously laid down on the table and the drink, his business was finished here anyways, nothing else to do but leave and make sure the sweepers didn't eat him alive before he got home.
The fanghunt fixer's annoyance had waned significantly, although still present, he too began to walk towards the back of the office to continue his much needed sleep.
''Oh, and by the way!'' Before being interrupted again, right as his hand was over the doorknob...part of him wanted to tear it off.
''I suggest you bring every member of your office to fight this one! I Heard they're quite tough!''
''Uhuh, sure they are.
''No really they a-''
The door to the back was slammed shut, cutting him off.
''...Oh well.''
Didn't exactly matter, he'd accomplished everything he set out to do today, his paid leave was all but secured, how the hell he was getting it wasn't a concern.
He hopped back into his car, setting the umbrella down in the back gently, stretching his arms over his head.
And silently praying the fixer would take the last part of his advice.
''I don't wanna have to do cleanup....'' Were the last words he muttered before speeding off.